Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister
Oommen Chandy on Tuesday said the UDF government was committed to
maintaining law and order and had instructed police to deal
sternly with anti-social elements.

"Strict action will be taken against rowdies and other
anti-social elements. The government is committed to extending
justice to all people in society," he said, speaking to
reporters after chairing a meeting of top police officials.

He said issues connected with tribals and Scheduled Castes
would be looked as an issue beyond a law and order problem.

A special drive would be conducted to check increased
instances of child begging and nab those behind the child
begging racket. Steps also would be taken to rehabilitate the
rescued children, he added.

To strengthen community policing concept, five additional
police personnel would be posted in all 143 police stations
where the system had been introduced and it would be gradually
extended to other police stations, he added.

Chandy said the Regional Forensic Laboratory in Kannur would
soon begin functioning with posting of necessary staff. Though,
construction of the building for the Laboratory had been
completed five years ago, the lab could not be operated for
want of staff, he pointed out.

It was also decided to treat the training period of police
personnel as service interlude. This benefit would also be
extended to pensioners by affecting an increase in their
pension amount, he said.

Asked about the progress of investigation into allegations
that attempts were made to scuttle the ice cream parlour sex
scandal case, he said "the law will take its own course."

Referring to the recent attack on the reporter of the
Mathrubhumi daily at Kollam, he said the Government viewed
such attacks seriously and assured that stern action would be
taken against those responsible.

To enhance security in cities and towns and check wayside
robberies, close circuit cameras would be installed at various
locations in five city corporations - Thiruvananthapuram,
Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode, he said.